Binghamton Advantage Program

The Binghamton Advantage Program (BAP) is a joint admissions program between Binghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College. Students live on the Binghamton University campus while taking classes at SUNY Broome with an opportunity to transfer to Binghamton after one or two years.

The last cohort of BAP students were admitted in the fall of 2023. The program will continue to support these students through the end of the 2023–24 academic year with the intent that they successfully transfer to Binghamton University in spring 2023 or fall 2024.

Students currently enrolled in the program now will be eligible to transfer to Binghamton University early for the spring 2024 semester if they maintain at least a 2.7 GPA at SUNY Broome for the fall semester.

The intent behind the decision is to make facilitate current BAP students transferring to Binghamton earlier than initially expected. Binghamton University has significantly expanded support and programming for transfer students over the past year, including the early arrival TRANSFERmation Summit offered in August and January each year. Former BAP students will continue to receive a high level of individualized support once matriculated.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the transition of BAP students.

FAQ

• What is the requirement to transfer to Binghamton for classes in spring 2024?

  While the credit hour minimum is waived, Binghamton has set a 2.7 GPA requirement for BAP students to transfer early in January. We expect, based on historical data, that the vast majority of students will meet this requirement. For those who do not, a committee will review their case. 

• What if I do not meet the GPA requirement to matriculate for spring or if I want to continue taking classes at SUNY Broome and living at Binghamton University for the rest of the academic year?
  We will continue supporting students who are unable to transfer early or who elect to remain in the BAP program for the spring 2024 semester just as we have and would have prior to the announcement of the ending of the program. Students in this case can continue to study at SUNY Broome while living on the Binghamton University campus in their current housing assignment, with the intent to strengthen their grades and matriculate to Binghamton in fall 2024.
• Should I register for classes at Binghamton University  or SUNY Broome for the spring semester?

  Students should plan to work with their advisor to register for spring classes at Binghamton University. 

  If you wish to continue taking classes at SUNY Broome while living at Binghamton University during the spring semester or you are not confident that you will earn the 2.7 minimum GPA requirement, you should work with your academic advisor to register for SUNY Broome classes for the spring semester. Students in this case can continue to study at SUNY Broome while living on the Binghamton University campus in their current housing assignment, with the intent to strengthen their grades and matriculate to Binghamton in fall 2024.

• Do I need to revise my FAFSA to transfer to Binghamton? When should I do this? Can this impact eligibility for the Excelsior scholarship?

  Yes, students will need to revise their FAFSA. Students planning to transfer to Binghamton for the spring 2024 semester can update their FAFSA now. 

  For students receiving New York’s Excelsior scholarship, processing for the spring semester will likely be delayed until after SUNY Broome certifies the scholarship recipients for the fall semester. This happens routinely when a student transfers to a new institution. The Excelsior scholarship’s eligibility requirements are the same whether a student stays at the same institution or transfers elsewhere. It is common for Excelsior recipients to transfer their scholarship to a different institution.  

• Am I eligible to apply for honors programs?

  Students will be eligible to apply for any special programs that are accepting new students if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

•  If I transfer to Binghamton in January, am I still able to have a car on campus?
  BAP students who registered a car for the fall semester and who transfer to Binghamton University for the spring semester will be allowed to have a car in the spring semester with the same restricted parking pass they currently have.
• Binghamton University and SUNY Broome have different academic calendars. How does this affect students who transfer to Binghamton for spring 2024?

  Students transferring to attend classes at Binghamton University for spring 2024 will abide by SUNY Broome’s academic calendar for the fall 2023 semester and Binghamton’s academic calendar for the spring 2024 semester. Housing and dining arrangements for BAP students will proceed as planned for the fall semester, including through December.

• What if I am a student who deferred my acceptance to the BAP program this fall?

  Admissions will be in touch with these students directly regarding next steps during the month of October.

• Will this impact the Binghamton University housing agreement I signed for 2023-2024?

  BAP students who transfer to Binghamton in January 2024 will retain their same University housing assignment for the spring 2024 term and will continue to be obligated under the terms of the housing agreement for the current academic year.

  BAP students who remain enrolled at Broome with an intent to transfer to Binghamton in a later semester will also retain the same University housing assignment and will continue to be obligated under the terms of the housing agreement for the current academic year.

• Can current BAP students enroll in winter coursework at Binghamton University?

  No. Because the SUNY Broome fall semester and Binghamton University Winter Session overlap, students will not be able to take classes at Binghamton University until the beginning of the spring 2024 semester.